Top 11 BEST Things to do in Karon

Looking for the best things to do in Karon? Find out what are the top attractions and amazing experiences you must not miss this beautiful place in Thailand!

What are the best things to do in Karon? Overlooking the Andaman Sea is a white sand Karon Beach spanning 5 km on the west coast of Phuket. This is the longest beach on the island.

For the ones willing to spend some time by themselves in a quiet and calm must go the much-deserted spot in the northern end of the beach and those willing to have fun and be amongst the crowd the southern end of the beach is for them.

The best time to visit the beach is during the high season of November – April when the water is crystal clear. However, during the monsoon season of May- October, the beach becomes slightly dangerous due to swells and riptides. One must be very cautious during these times and stay aware of any warning signs and signals.

Phuket works earnestly in protecting its sea turtles. The Sea Turtle Conservation Project run under by the Phuket Marine Biological Centre intents to help the turtle population grow on the island.

Time and again, it rescues the injured turtles and gives them proper medical treatment. It also collects the eggs laid by the turtles on the sand and incubates them in a safe and protective environment.

Karon Beach is a true paradise for adventure lovers. From banana boat rides, water skiing, wakeboarding, jet-skiing to parasailing, and much more.

The adventure activity options for visitors are plenty. The beach has wonderful conditions that are perfect for windsurfing. If the wind is fun, so is the water. Snorkeling is another activity much enjoyed at the Southern end of the beach. With sky and water covered, what remains is the sand. Volleyball is a popular evening sport enjoyed with nets and courts.

If none of the activities interest, one can easily rent an umbrella and a beach mat from the local vendors and relax at the beach. There is also a wide bicycle path running the length of the beach alongside the road of the beach.

After being exhausted by indulging in all the activities and sport, one can relish the range of cuisines available at restaurants and resorts. There are restaurants of every range and category, each serving some authentic and mouthwatering Thai seafood.

The beach has mainly three attraction spots – the Karon Centre, the Karon Beach Road, and the Luang Poh Chuan Road. To subside the confusion, here are some top things to do in Karon.

Top 11 BEST Things to do in Karon

Enjoy the Beach In Karon

Karon Beach is indeed one of the most loved beaches in Thailand by the tourist. Located on the west coast of Phuket, this is greatly quieter than Patong nearby.

The soothing sensation of the beach attracts families and couples keen on spending some time in solitude away from all the hush-hush of the loud cities. Since the beach is wide enough, it never feels too crowded. One can always find their corner even on a busy day at the beach.

An interesting thing about the beach sand is the squishy sound it makes when walking on it. The beach is also largely visited by businessmen from Scandinavia. One might also recall its name from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake followed by the tsunami. The beach has largely recovered from its damages and is back to entertain its visitors.

Get a Thai massage

What better way to relax when on holiday at one of the calmest and serene beaches of Karon than to pamper oneself with a massage. The Thai Massage has gained international popularity owing to its quality and effectiveness.

Be a royalty at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa or at Movenpick Resort and Spa Karon Beach, where the specialist uses popular ingredients such as the Royal Thai honey, chocolate, and black sesame. Without burning a hole in the pocket, visitors can get a beach massage as well, which is, if not more, but equally soothing and relaxing.

Get those aching limbs well kneaded by the trained masseuses offering their talent on the beach and mid-range spas at many affordable rates.

Take an ATV Tour up to Big Buddha

After understanding and following the basics instructions of riding and controlling an ATV, one can ride it down the dirt roads. Enjoy camping at the Big Buddha on powerful 200 cc Quad ATVs.

From filthy roads, driving through the jungle, and from over the mountain tops, it is a fun ride up to the magnetic white Big Buddha statue.

The ride on the ATV is a great way to explore the Ecosystem of Phuket. The adventure ride gives one a break from the regular beach walks and takes one off-road to go through the natural trails and explore the countryside of the beach.

There are many camps at the site, and visitors can enroll there to learn the basics of riding an ATV. Stay safe and secure when riding, and let the adventure give you that much-needed adrenaline rush.

Explore the streets of Karon

The streets are a true reflection and a mirror image of the town. To truly know the Karon beach, Thailand, and the culture of the place and its people take a walk through the streets of Karon.

This tranquil town of Thailand can be explored on foot itself. If required, one can rent a bicycle or a scooter to explore the city. While exploring, one shall come across the local and authentic stuff.

Thai food, handicraft, clothing, and gift shops run across the town. On your visit to the beach, keep at least one day to explore the town on foot and dive into the culture of Thailand.

Shop at Karon temple market

Similar to the popular Phuket Weekend Market, the Karon Temple Market is set in the 12000 square meter compound of the Karon Temple (Wat Karon or Wat Suwan Khiri Khet).

A market is a vibrant place offering food, clothing, shoes, and other local handicraft items perfect for gifting. It is the best place to buy tropical clothing – colorful dresses, floral t-shirts with dumb quotations, and shorts perfect for the beachwear.

The carved soaps can be of some attraction to the tourist visiting. After a shopping spree of gifts and souvenirs relish in the local food offered on the stalls by the locals.

One might get to taste some really cheap but authentic Thai food. Stroll through the market stalls and let the aroma of grilled and barbequed chicken, meat, and other seafood tickle your nostrils. Also, do not miss the much demanded Thai dessert of sticky mango rice and banana pancakes.

The market gives a real insight into the local culture of Karon and Thailand. The market occurs only twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The market adds a whiff of fun to usual quiet and a tad bit boring Karon Beach.

Join a yoga class

Karon Beach is pretty low on the loud and vibrant party quotient. The beach is not popular for its nightlife amongst the tourist but for its quiet and peaceful nights.

This makes it the aptest location to relax and rejuvenate and get lost in the tranquillity of the beach. There are many yoga classes where the tourist can detox and get rid of all toxins corrupting the body, mind, and soul.

Those coming from stressful and over-demanding cities and towns find their peace here. The classes help one find themselves within them and let them align their chakras. The alignment of body, mind, and soul sets a fine-tune to the rhythm of the person, and they return as different beings.

Learn how to cook Thai dishes in a cooking class

When leaving Thailand, take a piece of Thailand with you. The hotels and restaurants at the Karon Beach hold culinary classes and teach some of those popular and favorite dishes from the Thai cuisine.

Enroll in one the classes and learn to cook that Thai green curry, tom yum soup, pad Thai, Thai-style barbeque chicken, and add that culinary edge to the holiday.

Well, who would want to miss the opportunity of cooking Thai food in Thailand itself with the most traditional technique and authentic ingredients available only in Thailand.

The lucky ones also get the chance to go grocery shopping with the chefs from the local market, allowing getting an insight into the tradition and history of Thai cooking.

The local market has all the necessary ingredients essentially required in Thai cooking. At the local market, one can also find some exotic and different kinds of vegetables specific to the town itself. Bring some of those ingredients back home as they might not be available in your nearby grocery stores.

Visit a traditional Karon Temple.

Founded in 1985, the Karon Temple or originally known as Wat Suwan Khiri Khet has a rare and unusual black Buddha statue along inside its building along with an image of a cow and Kali.

The temple complex has many other Buddha statues, some images, and paintings. The three-story building has a calm and peaceful atmosphere. The temple has a prayer hall, a kitchen, and dormitories for monks.

There are 2 Thai mythological snakes or the Nagas statues guarding the main building, and their bodies surround the temple building. Along with this, there are also colorful statues of Yak from popular Thai folklore.

It is believed to keep safe the Buddha image inside safe from all the bad and scary spirits. Scenes from the life of Buddha are artistically engraved on the doors and windows of the temple. The monks staying there work round the clock to keep the temple neat and clean.

The serenity of the temple brings a different kind of emotion to the restless minds. The monks with their peaceful appearance are responsible for making the vibe of the place peaceful, powerful, and positive.

It is best to visit the temple on Tuesday and Saturday as there is a market set up on those days. One can enjoy good food and shopping there. Else on other days, the temple is much quieter.

Admire Karon Beach naga statue

The enigmatic and beautiful golden statue is a landmark of the Karon Beach. The naga statue depicts a giant cobra from the mythological tales of Buddha.

It is basically associated with rivers. There is also a popular belief that the statue is not of a naga but is actually a dragon. According to Chinese mythology, the dragon is a mythical creature named Hai Leng Ong who went to sleep and formed the Phuket Island.

Whether it a dragon or a naga, giving this statue a miss is hard enough. It is best to be a witness of the golden rays of the setting sun in the evening fading into the golden color of the statue.

The sunlight of the evening sun makes the statue all the more glorious and precious. The sight is an absolute treat to the eyes. If possible, visit the statue in the evening close to the sunset time and click away from those thousand pictures.

Enjoy nature at Karon Park

When on holiday, do not let those extra pounds ruin that beach body. Karon Park is heaven for witness enthusiasts. The Karon Park is surrounded by a lake and hoards some simple gyming equipment and a running track encircling the lake. Take a break from the relaxation of the beach and energize at the lake gym.

The popular Loy Krathong is celebrated each year in November at the beautiful setting beside the lake. Throughout the year, many fairs and festivals are conducted at the lake as well in the area around. Karon Park helps one refresh in the lap of nature, being surrounded by trees, lakes, and the bright blue sky.

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